Find out how popular the last name Zauner is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Zauner.

Zauner, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Zauner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Zauner in America

Zauner is the 39717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Zauner surname appeared 553 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Zauner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Zauner to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Zauner

The surname Zauner originates from German-speaking regions, most notably Austria and southern Germany, and appears to date back to the medieval period around the 14th or 15th centuries. The name is derived from the German word "Zaun," meaning "fence" or "hedge." Initially, this surname would have been occupational, referring to someone who constructed or maintained fences, an important role in pastoral and agricultural communities.

Zauner is likely rooted in rural areas where small-scale farming was prevalent. These regions would have required many fences to demarcate land for crops and livestock. Similar spellings of the surname include Zaun, Zaunerer, and Zaunauer, each reflecting slight variations in regional dialects and phonetic spellings over time.

Historical references to the surname begin to appear in tax rolls, land records, and census lists from the late medieval period. For example, a Hans Zauner is mentioned in a 1560 Bavarian land registry. Another early record is found in an Austrian church register from 1625, noting the baptism of Anna Zauner in the village of Altmünster.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Zauner becomes more widespread, reflecting the migration of people in search of new opportunities and the development of more extensive record-keeping practices. One notable individual is Franz Zauner, born in 1730, who became a prominent sculptor in Austria. His works were well-regarded in Vienna, where he passed away in 1804.

Another significant figure is Michael Zauner, born in 1802, who was a notable landowner and local politician in Bavaria during the 19th century. His involvement in regional politics helped shape local agricultural policies of his time. Sabine Zauner, born in 1824, emerged as a prominent midwife serving rural communities in Tyrol, Austria. She was known for her extensive knowledge in herbal medicine and her contributions to public health.

In the early 20th century, Johann Zauner, born in 1885 in Austria, became a noted engineer, contributing to the construction of railways in Central Europe. His work was particularly influential in the modernization of transportation infrastructure before his death in 1952. Another early 20th-century figure was Elisabeth Zauner, who was born in 1893 in Bavaria and became a recognized educator and advocate for women's education. She published several influential treatises advocating for comprehensive schooling for girls.

While the surname is primarily of German and Austrian origin, the subsequent spread of individuals bearing this name to other parts of Europe and even to the Americas has helped Zauner maintain a presence in various global communities. The historical contributions of people with the surname Zauner reflect a broad spectrum of professions and accomplishments, with the common theme of serving and improving their communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Zauner

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Zauner.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Zauner was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Zauner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Zauner was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Zauner, please contact us.

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